Mar 31, 2015

Dreaming of Plum Tarts

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Black Plums on Puff Pastry with Butter & HoneyThis recipe is very simple to prepare and makes a delicious, elegant dessert. It's best served immediately, glazed with butter and honey. You can use whatever fruit you like, black plums just happened to be in season, but you could use fresh pineapple, mango, peaches, strawberries, etc.

Procedure:
Preheat the oven to 425˚F. Place the puff pastry sheet on a parchment lined baking sheet. Prick all over with a fork to prevent the pastry from puffing up too much, then cut the pastry into six 4-inch squares, triangles, or circles. brush the pastry with the egg wash.

Slice the plums into thin even slices and place them in a bowl. Sprinkle the sugar over top and stir. Let sit for 5 minutes. Place the plums in a fan shape of 3 or 4 on the tarts, leaving 1/2” border. Drizzle a bit of the melted butter over top.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through until the pastry is puffed and golden. Once finished, drizzle the remaining butter, combined with the honey, over topt. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.

Note: Puff pastry gets soft very quickly and is then difficult to work with, especially here in Hawaii. Have everything ready, then bring out the puff pastry.

Dusted Black Plum Galette

A galette is a rustic French tart, but at the end of the day it is just a pie without a plate. I make this same recipe using fresh sliced plums, apples, or pears.

Procedure:
For the crust, blend flour and salt in processor. Add butter and blend, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water and blend just until dough begins to clump together, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and chill 1 hour. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep dough chilled. Soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.

Roll out dough between sheets of parchment paper to 1/8-inch-thick round, 14 inches in diameter. Remove top sheet of parchment. Using bottom sheet as aid, transfer dough on parchment to large unrimmed baking sheet. Chill 15 minutes.

CHEF JAMES TEMPLE

First of all, thanks for visiting Tasting Hawaii, my way of introducing you to the multi-ethnic cuisine found on these tropical Hawaiian islands.

I'm a retired chef living on the Hawaiian island of Moloka'i. It is small and rural, with a population of only 7,345. This island is tucked away between Oahu and Maui. It's special because the people living here are mostly Hawaiian. They love the old ways of aloha, where family comes first, helping your neighbor is important, and growth and tourism is not in their vocabulary.

In ancient times, it was the task of the men to prepare the food, and men and women ate meals separately. Hawaiians have always loved to cook, and so do I. No matter where you live, we all have one thing in common... FOOD. To me, sharing lives over a meal makes food what it was always meant to be, not just a nourisher, but a uniter of hearts.

After 35 years in the advertising business I thought... it's time to expand my horizons. I decided to make a big change and go back to school... cooking school. In January, 2003 I graduated from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, California, with an Associate of Occupational Studies in Le Cordon Bleu, Culinary Arts Degree.

I love living and cooking, especially in Hawaii. I hope you find a recipe on this blog that will become a family favorite, and that you will learn a little about Tasting Hawaii and cooking with Aloha.

Chef James Temple

CHEF JAMES TEMPLE'S COOKBOOKS: "COOKING ON MOLOKA'I"

Cooking in Hawaii is like a painter's pallet, a fusion of flavors from many nationalities, a tropical melting pot that is unique to the culinary world. This 170 page cookbook has over 120 local recipes like: Fried Honey Sesame Shrimp, Chicken Adobo in Coconut Milk, Spicy Thai Beef Salad. and Tahitian Lime Pie. These recipes are some of the best 'grindz' enjoyed on Moloka'i and the Hawaiian islands.

"TROPICAL COOKING"

Did you know that there are over 45,000 tropical islands around the world. This 170 page cookbook has a collection of over 120 tropical island recipes. Recipes like: "Banana Crumble Muffins", "Aruban Citrus Chicken", "Pineapple Rum Cake", "Lime-Garlic Pork Roast", "Black Bean, Heart of Palm, and Corn Salad", "Coconut Crab Cakes with Avocado Mango Salsa", "Coconut Shrimp Hush-puppies", or "Tropical Island Gazpacho", just to name a few.

"AMBROSIA"

In Greek mythology, Ambrosia was the food of the Gods, an elixir of life. Today, Ambrosia is still a word that stands for the best of food, food that is good enough to be eaten by the Greek Gods. This 170 page cookbook has over 120 recipes like: "Roasted Beet Bruschetta", "Cream of Artichoke Soup", Celery Root Salad with Capers and Lemon", "Roast Pork with Dried Fruit", "Shirred Eggs with Lobster", and "Plum Crumble". This is a culinary oasis that will bring fine dining to your world and romance to your plate, whether you are a deity or not.

VISIT MY FINE ART AMERICA WEBSITE, CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW

CREATIONS BY KIMBERLY

Creations by Kimberly is my wife's company. She specializes in wholesale custom pillow cases, placemats, aprons, tote bags, etc., all in beautiful tropical fabrics. Kimberly's products are sold in retail outlets on most of Hawaii's islands. Click on the logo above to visit her website and see her products.